and that has relevance to this thread, how?

For me, that statement means he will be going. We normally don't announce much in the way of ongoing talks - Tuimavave, Fash, Masi etc. they just normally get announced

When was this statement made? Was it on the radio?

... in the April edition of 'The 18th Man'.

Also via email if you're a member.

Kelly himself has said he want's to play himself into an NRL deal, I'd like him to stay, but not at "silly money".

Adam sounds like he's making the right noises about retention. But isn't this all Ellis' job?

Worth every penny if he carries on with the same attitude he has so far.

I'd make him a marquee player and hope he signs for another year.

Who's said it isn't?

a marquee player, for one year?

makes no sense to me, if he signed for 2+1 (the third season being FC's option) I'd go with that. If he only wants a year then he isn't "marquee"

Albert Kelly has been a total waste of money for us as a club surely we all know that as we were told he was trouble and wait for the 2nd season syndrome by all the fountains of knowledge from the Rugby League Gods over that magical river to the east of this fair land.

If Kelly goes back to the NRL at the end of this season then best of luck to him and I'm glad we saw him play for us and be a model pro whilst at this club. ATEOTD it all comes down to money and whether he gets offered an NRL gig too so it may well be the last season we see him in black n white or it may not, so I shall continue to enjoy him play for our club.

As has been seen over the last few seasons the game in the UK will struggle to attract players of the calibre of Kelly unless they have serious baggage or are as yet unproven to hold down a berth in the NRL. They therefore become projects or players wanting to get games and make a name for themselves in the hope of attracting an NRL contract . So is he worth offering a fair amount of wedge to retain him then currently on his present form and commitment to the club along side the alternatives in terms of replacements I would say YES.

Is he a marquee player? Yes I believe he is, even if its for one year if it means we keep him for another year. Look around the rest of the SL clubs and apart from Ben Barba who else would you really say was marquee? We just don't get the likes of Jason Smith, Trent Barrett etc anymore and are unlikely to for the foreseeable future.

So realisticly who would you replace him with that would be as good without losing the quality and x factor we get from him if he isn't marquee?

Why can't he be a marquee player for a year? If plays like a marquee player that it's no problem.

2/3 deal is too much of a risk for bot sides, I'm sure he will go back to the NRL, hopefully get one more year.

Think he will go back personally

Think he will go back but he won't get anything like the hero worshipping he gets here. Bit like Fonua.
If he goes back, I'm sure he will go with the clubs best wishes, but like has already been mentioned I'd go all out and make him a marquee player, even if it's for one year.

It's worth signing a marquee player for one season look at Barba he's already said in not so many words that he will be back in the NRL next year but I bet the saints fans are glad they saw him play for there club even if it is for a short space of time

I think if shows you where we are with Super League when we can't actually attract marquee players into the game.

Think it shows you where the dollar is, if players could earn more in super league , then they'd play in super league, simple as that

Completely agree. Been a pleasure to see someone of his natural ability in the irregular hoops and I'm resigned to him going home (as another poster said, I think AP is teeing his departure up here, unfortunately). If he stayed it would be amazing. The question about who we could realistically replace him with on a marquee level is almost rhetorical.

Hi PC,

I don't think the roles will be quite as rigid as that.

I expect all of Radds, Gaz and AP will have to endorse it. On ability thats the easy one, its a no brainer.

Then the Commercial side will be lead by AP with Gaz sitting in. it will be a great opportunity for him to gain valuable negotiating experience from such a seasoned operator.

Though to be honest Alby knows the club now, and we know what Alby brings.
So its all about "is the money on offer from AP, and the continuity with Hull FC " seen as more attractive by Alby and his Wife than " NRL ambitions and returning home (and oh yes... the pay packet, if he can get a game that is. nb. Fonua)

Trent hodkinson , done deal

Do we really need to spend massive money on keeping Kelly?

I think hes a good player but he isnt the world beater some are making out. Weve got Conner and Abdul who both want to partner Sneyd and whilst we'll keep Conner as hes contracted if Kelly signs i dont think we'll keep Abdul and he'll be straight off to Rovers which will be a big loss for the future

I know people will disagree but id let Kelly leave and go with what we have and spend the money on improving our back row as we may need a whole new one next season

I think you are wrong there Uppo
yes money is usually the main factor but in this case its family and Albo has already said after 5 years his family in Australia want him home and that has to be pulling on his mind.
Another factor is whether his best friend Bobby Blair at HKR also decides to return to Australia at the end of the season.Maybe if he stays on an extra year then Albert may give it another year.
Whatever he does its been a pleasure to have such a great exciting player at the club and i have no doubt there will be offers to sign him from NRL clubs before the end of the season.

I dont think losing Abdull would be a big loss for the club especially if we get a transfer fee for him
If we lose Kelly and its expected we will, we lose most of our strike threat.Neither Abdull or Connor offer that from half back.
I do agree though we need a big mobile second row for next season but i still maintain Josh Griffin can be that mobile second row we are missing and when we have a full complement of backs i would start playing Griffin as a second row starting off from the bench until he gets more used to the extra work load and tackling.
Think Seka will extend his contract so its only Mini we will be looking to replace

Why would you not just spend the money of the departing back row on new back rowers?

and if kelly stays just a year more and we let go our only other young half cum looseman then what? We rely on a Sneyd/Connor combo with no back up up whatsoever
This thinking that we continually sacrifice youngsters and continually bring in players from outside is not going to work long term. We've already had to let go players because of having brought in from outside the youth system particularly the backline.

We would have been over the cap in '16, if payments hadn't being deferred for '17 which then had a knock on effect in that we had to loan out and release other players. And so it will continue.
The other stumbling point is that with a player being paid fully by the club on marquee status we'd need to win more than the CC to break even. Given that was the case in '16 even with the deferred payments when Radford declared the club only just broke even for that season, full cap plus marquee would be an extra expense that could mean a loss unless we win silverware again and/or get to two finals (as we simply aren't drawing in the numbers crowd wise).

Letting JA go would be a mistake, it also says to other younger players that the club will continually sacrifice/let them go rather than give them a chance, the signing of Griffin was in itself a sign of that as we already had a talented 3/4 from within the club + Rawesthorne too.
You yourself said we should have worked with him and that he was no worse defensively than Griffin or Talanoa and indeed if we'd kept him no need to sign miloudi.

usual suspects runnimg the club down...

Quote ="Tinkerman23"Trent hodkinson , done deal'" Always been linked even though this was a fair while back. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/frank- ... hm0wx.html

Quote ="Tinkerman23"Trent hodkinson , done deal'" Always been linked even though this was a fair while back. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/frank- ... hm0wx.html